Why I'm Happily Single This Valentine's

We're getting to that time of year again. No, not Pancake Day or Easter unfortunately. Valentine's Day. As I write this we are four days away and it seems like with each year I get older, the pressure to conform to the holiday or do something special increases. As does the amount of people putting others down for celebrating it. (Can't we just let people enjoy things?) Everywhere we look we're bombarded by offers and ideas from different companies trying to capitalise on love. What seemingly just started as a commercial holiday aimed at making money off couples has now expanded to try and squeeze as much as they can out of us, single or not. (But I challenge you to find a holiday that isn't like that.) Still, I feel like there's still this underlying idea that as a single woman on Valentine's Day I should be bitter towards happy couples and feel lonely. And I honestly couldn't feel more the opposite. If anything, I've been thinking about just how happy I am being single. Not just for this one day in particular but at this stage in my life right now. Though I will be going out for a meal with my girlfriends and having a "Galentine's Day", I don't feel the need to do anything to take my mind off the fact that I'm single for the day because quite frankly, I couldn't care less. (Still, if Tom Hardy wants to show up with a puppy at my door, I wouldn't say no).

I see a lot of posts around this time on social media talking about how we don't need one day to be romantic and how if you love someone you should show them all the time and blah blah blah but for me, even when I was in a relationship (albeit not the best one) it was nice having a day that was a little more special. I'm only human. I like getting cards, chocolates and flowers. But they're not things I crave off another person when I'm single, I can buy that stuff myself. Yeh, there are definitely things I miss. Spooning for example. God, I miss spooning. A teddy bear only makes a good cuddling partner for so long and it definitely can't play with my hair or tickle my back. And sex. I mean regular sex. Yeh, there's friends with benefits and one night stands which can be absolutely amazing but a girl has needs. And if you're only seeing someone once in a blue moon, you can guarantee they ain't being fulfilled. And even though I love wearing shit hot underwear just for myself cause it makes me feel sexy af, it would be 10x better if I had someone else to see it too.

But other than the most intimate parts of a relationship, I don't miss a great deal. I have an amazing group of friends around me, friends that are there for me whenever I need them, who I can tell anything to without fear of judgement and they know full well that I will tell them just about anything too. Friends who make me feel great about myself and build me up, that I'm making amazing memories with. Friends that make even coming into work something to look forward to. I'm enjoying being 22 and having fun, talking to different guys, going on dates without any sort of commitment. I like having my freedom. I've just moved to a huge city full of opportunities and started a dream job that will help me build what I hope to be an exciting career. Honestly I just don't know if I'm cut out for a relationship right now, I just can't be bothered. Up until now I've worn my heart on my sleeve. I'm the first to admit that I get attached way too easily and "fall in love" far too quick and though I'm not sure this will ever change because it's just a part of who I am, I want to save that for someone who deserves it. I've definitely spent way too long on those who didn't and caused myself way more heartache than I deserve. Until then, I'm happy just having fun. If someone amazing comes along, someone that makes my cells dance and my stomach fill with butterflies then I won't be completely closed off to it but what I think I'm getting at, is that I'm not actively looking. I'm not waiting for it. Plus, dating in this day and age does my head in but that's probably an entire post in itself.

So, whether you're happily single, totally loved up or looking for the one, do what makes you happiest this Valentine's Day. For some, that may be doing nothing at all and for others that might be going the whole hog with roses, chocolates and dinner for two. You just do you. What will I be doing on Tuesday 14th? Me and a few friends have got a table booked at a really nice restaurant in Manchester so we'll be having some delicious food and a couple of cocktails on a school night. I've also treated myself to some new lingerie. I'd been eyeing up the set below in red for a couple of weeks now and when I saw it was 20% off I had to take the plunge. No time like the present. I might not have anyone to see it that night but I'll still feel fabulous.

Single or taken, how are you (if at all) celebrating Valentine's Day this year?